Its shaping up

[TrigaTheTiger]

OK - so I guess we have been pretty critical of the coaching staff the last four years. I certainly have not held back (gotta love the non censored forums!)

I have a few concerns about our squad, but the run on side is starting to look pretty good.

I would suggest a full strength team looks something like this:

1
2 Tuiaki
3 Ayshford
4 Lawrence
5
6 Marshall
7 Moltzen
8 Galloway
9 Farah
10 Cayless
11 Payton
12 Ellis
13

Still some question marks but I would suggest if that core of the team stays healthy, we will be doing OK. We have untested options at fullback, several addequate wingers and Fulton would in my view slot back into lock.

Where we will have issues is in depth and the fact that as of today, we still dont have a starting fullback with first grade experience. Not happy with Ryan there and I would rather try Lazarus or Mullally if we dont get Tiquiri.

We have Tomato and Lui as halves depth, little depth at hooker and centre. Some forward options, but as above would be my full strength starting "no brainer" team.

Fulton would fit at 13 if that is where he is planned, I would like Tiquiri at fullback and as Mark Geyer used to say "any spastic can play on the wing"

 

[Magpies Forever]

I reckon we will see (at least initially):

Lazarus at #1- after all what was Teflon's point in retaining him after the horror injury run unless he rated him. Teflon would be nuts not to play him and give him a shot.

Ryan at #5- last years form wasnt that bad- he certainly is no superstar but solid enough. I'd rather Ryan than Fitzhenry.

Fulton ar #13- pretty well all it can be although I'd like to suggest that, if pre-season form warrants it, Mark Flanagan get a shot. If we can get him in the main 13 squad he can take over goal kicking from Benji.

Interchange will probably be:

Fitzhenry, Fulton (or Flanagan), Gibbs & Dwyer

 

[Vic Mackey]

undoubtedly our 2010 squad on paper is the strongest and has the most depth of any squad in our 11 year history.

we have huge competition for spots in nearly every position and will have genuine first graders playing in the lower comp, as opposed to state cup players playing first grade as in previous seasons.

i believe nearly every spot is open at this stage and i think only:

1.
2. Tuiaki
3.
4. Lawrence
5.
6. Marshall
7.
8.
9. Farah
10. Galloway
11. Ellis
12.
13.

14.
15.
16.
17.

is set in stone. this time last year probably only fullback and one bench spot was open. this is a great thing for us and anything less then a top 4 spot will be an under achievement

 

[Magpies Forever]

Yep- the competition will be great I'm looking forward to that but selection on form is not one of Teflon's strong points. There is where I hope WT management will be breathing down his neck........... Teflon needs a strong person in a position of power to curb his excess of 'faith / hunch'

 

[Tiger Hawk]

OK - so I guess we have been pretty critical of the coaching staff the last four years. I certainly have not held back (gotta love the non censored forums!)

I have a few concerns about our squad, but the run on side is starting to look pretty good.

I would suggest a full strength team looks something like this:

1
2 Tuiaki
3 Ayshford
4 Lawrence
5
6 Marshall
7 Moltzen
8 Galloway
9 Farah
10 Cayless
11 Payton
12 Ellis
13

Take out Cayless (a 4 year absentee from NRL footy and the last 2 years injured) and that was pretty much the side for the bulk of 2009 - why is anybody that much more confident our fortunes will be any different in 2010? Are the likes of Mitch Brown, Junior Moors, Geoff Daniella, Daniel Fitzhenry and Mark Flanagan that much of an improvement over Halatau, Morris, Payne, Skando or Galea? For mine, no. Not enough to get us over the line and into the finals anyway (let alone a legitimate crack at the title).

Meanwhile we still lack a halfback, don't have a proven backup hooker, front-row depth is still an issue, question-mark on fullback and so on.

More of the same in 2010. I'd go as far to say our fortunes rest pretty much on whether any of the kids coming through can have an impact like the last bunch that came through over 2003 - 2005 (Fulton, Gibbs, Farah, Marshall, Collis, Harrison). It's possible, but far from certain, given the last bunch had Prince & Hodgo steering them around. Who have the current bunch got?

 

[youngun]

Couldn't agree more with the comments here and I'm really excited about our 2010 prospects providing our key personnel stays injury free.
The one thing that puzzles me and please let me know if I am missing something, but nobody has mentioned Heighno in any posts, I would have thought he forms an integral part of our side.
Granted he didn't have a 2009 season that reflects his ability or form of the past couple of seasons and quite possibly cost himself a State of Origin debut but he would be in my first team picked every week and having spoken to him recently know that he was dissapointed in 2009 and really looking forward to this season.

 

[Magpies Forever]

I reckon he needs to step up another notch or two. 2009 was very quiet for Heighington and he was completely overshadowed by Ellis. Whilst he will probably be first picked in the starting 13, he will be under pressure- not just from Payton but the young guns of Dwyer etc will be breathing down his neck too.

 

[youngun]

I reckon he needs to step up another notch or two. 2009 was very quiet for Heighington and he was completely overshadowed by Ellis. Whilst he will probably be first picked in the starting 13, he will be under pressure- not just from Payton but the young guns of Dwyer etc will be breathing down his neck too.

Couldn't agree more Magpie and I think Sheens has to use Ellis more effectively in attack.
Heighno was very quiet last season and I think looked for the offload much too often instead of hitting it up and playing what is in front of him. Seemed to me as he was going to the line looking for an offload before getting to the defence which was being read by other teams and also taking some sting out of hi hitup.

 

[TrigaTheTiger]

It is pretty much the same squad as last year - two major differences though - last year we started the season without a half and didnt have ANY pack depth.

Moltzen plays at half all last year - we would have mode the finals. I have no doubt of that.

This year, if sheens plays Moltzen at half and if Marshall and Farah stay healthy we are a top 4 side.

 

[The Gambler]

Very strong side on paper, however unless we stop piss-farting around with the line-up throughout the season I can't see the Tigers being as dangerous as they should be.

 

[alien]

1. Tuqiri (if it doesn't work try Taumata/Lazarus/Brown/Lawrence)
2. Tuiaki
3. Ayshford
4. Lawrence
5. Topou
6. Marshall
7. Moltzen
8. Galloway
9. Farah
10. Cayless
11. Heighington
12. Ellis
13. Fulton

14. Taumata/Flanagan/Lazarus
15. Mataka/Moors/Gower/Akeripa
16. Payten
17. Gibbs

TrigaTheTiger we have plenty of depth in the centres: Lawrence, Ayshford, Daniela, Brown, Ryan, Tuqiri could play in the centres, Davis, Akeripa could play in the centres and Pritchard. We will be ok in the centres.

Give Heighington a break people. He was playing with niggling injuries all year and Sheens keeps him on the field for too long aswell. He needs more of a break.

This year we should do better because we wont have Morris in the halves.

 

[TrigaTheTiger]

Alien - I know there are people who can play centre.

Its like the fallacy that we had until recently plenty of back row depth.

It doesn't count if they are crap.

None of those guys mentioned are in the same league as Lawrence and Ayshford -

I just hope Ayshford doesnt suffer the old second year syndrome.